MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • May 18, 2025
Maine is the only state with wild populations of Atlantic salmon. Yet these sea-run fish face significant threats as they attempt to migrate thousands of miles from the ocean to their natal waters to spawn. Barriers such as dams and inadequate culverts that block their safe passage have impeded the recovery of this ecologically and culturally important species. In 2003, the Appalachian Mountain Club launched the Maine Woods Initiative to promote multiuse conservation and recreation in the famed 100-Mile Wilderness. This initiative included one of the largest fisheries restoration projects in the country, helping protect and enhance the habitat that salmon, brook trout, alewives and many other species rely on. Restoration efforts have already demonstrated early signs of success. ~ Steve Tatko, Appalachian Mountain Club